How to Be a Brain Injury Lawyer

Brain injury emerges as a complex matter, as sometimes medical tests do not fully reveal the trauma the brain suffered.

Aside from working with medical staff, brain injury attorneys work with psychologists and family members to prove the existence and seriousness of brain injuries through various testimonies. Brain injuries result from multiple causes, from getting hit in the head to car accidents to medical procedures gone awry. Becoming a good brain injury attorney takes time and experience, but if you have passion for it your will find the work interesting and fulfilling. Follow these guidelines to become a brain injury lawyer.

1. All brain injury attorneys have to go through the same basic steps before choosing the brain injury branch of the profession. If you are still a college student, you will need to get your Bachelor’s degree before proceeding to pursuing a law degree. Make sure you have good grades during college, as the law school will take your Grade Point Average (GPA) into consideration during the admissions process.

2. After graduating college you will have to take a test similar to the SAT but specific to prospective law students. The Law School Admissions Test, commonly known as the LSAT, will score your potential to be a good law student. You can take the test four times a year. Take practice tests first to evaluate your performance and then decide when you will actually take the official test.

3. A good LSAT score and a strong GPA will get you into most law schools. Check the website of the law school to which you want to apply and read all the application requirements. If necessary, ask your former teachers for letters of recommendations and write a motivation letter.

4. While studying law, try to make time to also study brain-related medical articles. Find out about the most common brain injuries resulting in lawsuits and understand both the legal and medical implications of the cases. Also read about how to talk with and understand patients with brain injuries, as well as how to talk to their families. Brain injury attorneys often base their cases on statements rather than medical records.

5. Keep a clear criminal record. Although this might sound strange, know that any felony, incident you have with the law prior to becoming a lawyer, traffic ticket or substance abuse issue can prevent you from entering the bar.

6. Graduate law school, earn your JD degree, and study to pass the bar exam in your state so you can enter the bar. Once you pass the bar exam and the Character and Fitness evaluation, you will earn the designation of practicing lawyer.

7. Find brain injury attorneys in your area and start off working with them on cases. After you’ve acquired some experience, you can start taking cases on your own.